Free Music– Carnival season kicks off with a bang this weekend in the form of parades. Saturday night is the 25th installment of the Krewe du Vieux parade with over a dozen brass bands providing the entertainment. For prime viewing, stay out of the French Quarter.
A parade of another sort happens Saturday morning at 11 AM with a jazz funeral second line send off for the late great Poppa Neutrino. It starts at Armstrong Park and proceeds through the French Quarter before winding up on the bank of the mighty Mississippi with a Viking-style service.
Friday night, check out the Radiators at the Maple Leaf Bar. There are only three shows left at the iconic uptown club for the iconic New Orleans “funky rock” band (that’s how they were billed at the House of Blues back in the day).
There’s more free music Saturday afternoon at the Louisiana Music Factory. Beginning at 2 PM with the Parishioners, followed by Ivorie Spectacle featuring Seguenon Kone, and concluding with the Panorama Brass Band at 4 PM.
If you weren’t one of the lucky 500 non-krewe members who got tickets to the Krewe du Vieux Do, there are still lots of musical options. Stay in the Carnival mood and check out the Dirty Dozen Brass Band at Tipitina’s or Kermit Ruffins and the BBQ Swingers at the Blue Nile.
